Day 25: Tears in the sky.. Tears in the eyes. Another adventure begins

If you don’t count Gallipoli because we didn’t actually GO to bed, this was our earliest wake-up call of the pilgrimage and it was to be the last. Today, the pilgrimage sort of officially ends as the group makes its way back to Rome and Sydney via Singapore or off in different directions. So 4.20 was an early wake up for a 5am breakfast, but it was important to get up and share the meal and farewell the group as Chris and I would make our way today to Florence via train at 9.30 am. As the time came to board the bus there were hugs and a few tears as the group headed down the hill and out of sight. The grey drizzly sky a motif for the tears in the hearts of all as it was finally time to end.

Once the packing was over Chris and I left by cab for the railway station in Assisi, being taken down a back road that afforded a stupendous view of this beautiful hill town. It was cold on the station so we had a coffee in the little café before boarding the train, lugging the suitcases with us and finding a fairly comfortable seat in first class for the 2.5 hr trip to Firenze. The countryside was obscured by misty rain in some parts but appeared to change a bit as we moved from Umbria into Tuscany. 

The Waldorf Suites are literally opposite the Santa Maria Novella Railway station in Florence and that is where we are staying for our four nights. It is always a risk when you book a hotel on the net, but wow, did Chris do a great job with this one. We have been upgraded to a suite on the fourth floor and so we are in a one bedroom apartment style room with two bathrooms. Fancy having a bathroom each. There is some view to the distant hills, but the bus depot definitely doesn’t count. It is a fabulous hotel and a great location. 

No time wasted, after check in we hit the railway food court, grabbed a Panini for lunch and boarded the next train to Pisa, destination the Duomo and the Leaning Tower. Some serious rain followed on the train trip but it was just bleak and drizzly when we hit Pisa and made the 2km hike to the Field of Miracles. There was the Tower. What a phenomenal thing it is that it can LEAN on the angle it does and yet still remain standing. Mandatory silly pics taken, along with a few serious ones and it was time for afternoon tea in a lovely café nearby the Duomo. Wickedness! As we walked back to the station the rain got worse and it became a quite unpleasant afternoon, so the sooner we were on the train and back to Florence the better. Dinner followed, again at the railway cafeteria and then, just exhausted after the early morning start, we went back to the hotel and readied for sleepy time. Another lovely day over.